Controlling device.



A. E. NORRIS.

GONTBOLLING DEVICE.

APrLIoATmN FILED MAY e, 190e.

1,088,293. l l Patented Feb. 24, 1914 resident of Cambridge'. county of Middle` TED STATES Parana; onirica.

coNTnoLLINe nnvrcn.

accesos.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, Auron E. Nonnts, a

ser, and State 'of1.MassachuSette, have in vented an Improvement vin Controlling Dev ices,`ot' which the following description, in

connection with the accompanying. draw.-

ingsgwis a speciication-,.y like letters on thedrawings representing like parts.

My invention relates to controlling de` vices,- being more particularly concerned 'with the provision ofineans for effectively controlling the application of. auxiliary.

power, such, for example, as compressed air or other pressure fluid, .to 'the operation ,of apparatus YWhere the `application .of such power is required. to be had With. the precision and delicacy .resembling that where hand povvyer is relied upon.' As an illustrative example there may be citedthecase of a friction clutch for a ropewinding drum. In'such instance itis quite desirable that the auxiliary power which is lstai'itially this same graduated and delicate elect as where hand power alone is relied Aupon to operate rsuch adevice. For er fao applied for engagingor-releasing the clutch should. be applied by the operatorwith subample, where a grab is raised or lowered through a rope-.Winding drum, the clutch for such' drum, when` operated by manual power, is ,not only completelyengaged or completely disengaged at times, but also at other times. partlyA thrown in so "that 'the Aopera-tor lhas the graduated'control. of such clutch constantlyathis command. 1. During the lowering of the'loadhe can permit more' o l The same istrue4 ofyftlie traversing of the" trolley vvhichsustains the grab andwhich,'.

l lor less slippage` and,.throu gh the resultant retarding friction, maintain at any desired rate -the speed at Which.,the load drops;

' and cause the controlling device to respond proportionately either to the manual movementyof the controlling lever or other 1nstrumen-t',"or to the pressureluanually enspieication ofLetters Patent. Ptntgd Feb, 24, 1914, plantation mea nay e, 190s. serial nu. 431,159.

erted, as in the case of directly applied manual control. Where compressed air is employed for this purpose, and a simple controlling valve only is used, theopening of such valve applies the full pressure to render the clutch or other device completely eifective. The only way a condition can be secured `loetvreen an inoperative and a cornpletely operative or eiective one is to reby intermittently opening Vthe valve to vthe exhaust or the live pressure. To4 do this the valve lever must be quickly oscillated from an open to a closed position, since in neither duce-or build up the pressure '1n the system,I

position does it give the. required effect.`

IThis neither simulates'. the conditions of hand control, since the operator is called.

upon to jerk backend forth the hand lever whichoifers no resistance to movement as 'contrasted with moving. the usual clutch `controlling lever part vWay, against a constunt-ly increasing pressure, nor is the. effect the same since the clutch or other control'- ling device is alternately thrown inv and out,

stead of an even pull. V

Une object ofthe present invent-ion is to provide an economical and practical system of auxiliary power control for dexiices of this and other types, which system shall be practically applicable to hoisting and cony vveying apparatus, as Well as other app-aratus.` and, instrnmentalities, and where substantially the same delicacy of control may bel obtained. as with direct hand control.

yIn `,the@following .described embodiment ofthe invention'fthe same is shown as employing "compress/fd air and as applied4 to. V

the actuation of theclutch for a .rope-Wind# lng drum, but itkis tc-be -understood that vthe actual medium f power employed and r lthe `actual form dof apparatus to which the same is shown applied form no essential partici my broad invention.

My invention will be best understood by reference to the following description when :taken in connection with the accompanying illustration of one 'specic embodiment thereof, While its scope will be more particullarly.pointed out in 4the 'appended claims.

In the drawings: Figure i shows a side elevation of a controlling lever to which-is applied one embodiment of my invention, the same also being shown as operatively associ-ated With the clutchof a rope-Winding drum; Fig. 2.is a rear elevation of the llO u g l l v exertmgaJser-les of Jerks Aupon `the rope inv of the drum into frictional engagement with y lever and the adjacentvalve casing shownin Fig. 1; Fig. 3 1s. a.' longitudinal section in elevation taken through the axis of one of the controlling levers shown in and v -also showing the .construction of 'the clutchcontrollingvalve; Fig.- 4 is a similar section; showing modified 'valve connect ions;` and v Fig.- 5 is a longitudinal 'sectio `.'take1i throughthe .valve shown, in Figs. 3 `and 4," butpon a larger scale.

f Referring to the dravvingsfand to thev embodiment of .my invention there `selected for illustrative pur oses, I`have`.' there shown. a hand lever. 1v o the type employed lfor controlling the friction of a hoisting drum,` the connections ofthe lever for controlling the drum 'friction being omitted. .Adjacent the handle of the lever 1 there 4is provided a .controllin member 2, herein in the form of for lcontrolling the 1' application of com` a pivoted and latch or grip, the latter adapt ed' to move a valve of special construction pressed air or other pressure fiuid to the clutch 3 of the rope-wlndin drum 4.' The 'i t tl u 45. s an dv particular form of control ing' device employed and the' rticular form ofthe part or arts upon w ich it is mounted orwith which vit is associated is'not material to my invention, but I have here shown the particularparts referred to for the sake ofillus- I tration.

Compre$edair may be suppliedifrom a main or any other vsuitable source of supply,

.the same' being!'hereinconventionally indicated by\ the storage tank 5 connected by vthe pipe '6 withfthefva'l've casing 7 whence,

, ykey or pin 14 and, workingin a transverse the latter abuttin 'drum 4.' When t e piston 10 is forced inwardly the rod and pin move the drum 4- slot' in the shaft, bears against a collarfl, against vthe end ofl the along vthe shaftand force the movable cone- 'shaped clutch member yattached to the end the .ii-ized `clutch member 16,"thereby communicating 1- driving movement from the driving shaft 13 tothe rope-winding drum 4.

The construction of the clutch referred to is well-known in the art'. anddescription is here l given' merely to ,illustrate ap liation of my invention.`

,'Illhe opening of the clutch cylinder 9 tok the'main supply pipe 6 is effected by a valve `co1lar or abutment 2 one specific message 17 hereia'of the piston'type, in the valve chamber7., .To controlj this valve the hand `is connected by'fa link 18 with the sli in block 19, land .thel latter is connecte bellci'ank'.'lever 21 pivoted in a bracket on the hub'of the lever 1 (Fig. e

v 3). lThe opposite arm of thebell-crank and embraces` a sliding actuating pin 22, the latterbeing mounted 'for sliding movement at one-end in the lever shaft 23, or anyother suitable support,'and, at `the opposite end,

in the plug 24.- The lever 21'abuts against a collar slidably mounted u'pon the pin 22 and adapted to effect movement thereofl through thecoilV spring 26 interposed becollar `and the fixed clamped .about .said

tween the said slidin pin.

yWhen the valve 17 is opened to admit pressure fluid' to the clutch' cylinder, `the pressure tends to throw the clutchffull on.

I have so constructedthe valve, ,"however,

that the "pressure admitted to the cylinder is automatically regulated and maintained proportionately to'the manual pressure applied to the handgrip.

Referring to Flgs. 3, 4 and/5, the valve casing has a live pressure port'28..connected with themain supply pipe 6, an `exhaust.

-port 29. opening into the atmosphere, and an Intermediate port 30 connected 'withy the supply pipe Sleading to the clut'ch'cylinder 9.

The -valve is adapted to be moved longitu-` dinally to place 'the cylinder port 30.in com` munication with either 4the pressure or the exhaust port, excessive movement in one diand in the other direction by the abutting 'by a` -link .20' to one arm of av ver is forked rectionV being limited by the abutment 31 lthreaded into the end of the valve chamber plug 24. The valve is moved in one direc` tion by the actuating pin 22, the'pin-actuaty Lug movement of the alve, as will be more fully set forth, takin place` against pressure fluid resistance upon the opposite end of the valve, such reslstance being proportional to the working pressure admitted to the working or clutch cylinder.

When the hand grip 2 is compressed the connections are moved to slide the collar 25 along the pin and compress the spring 26. The compression of' the spring 26,'in turn, moves the pin 22 againstthe piston valve and moves the latter to open the working cylinder port tothe live pressure port 28, tereby admitting pressure to the working cylinder 9 and applying the clutch.

If thev hand. grip is squeezed tightly against the handle of the lever, the spring 26 may be compressed under such a pressure that the valve will move against the abutment 81 and open and maintain open the .working cylinder so that it will attain the lfull pressure ofl air supply; The Working 'cylinder port 30, however, is connected with 26,-will move the valve to-a closed position,

or even vbeyond that to a position 4of exhaust, 'thereby to hold constant or reduce the pressure in the working cylinder. If, therefore, the hand grip .is only partly closed, the

' spring 26 will be only partly compressed and yof the sprirltg.

the air ressure exerted upon the opposite endof t valve will move to close the same before the full pressure of air supplyv has beeny attained in the working cylinder. The proportions of the valve-controlling spring 26 and the area of the end of the valve exposed to the air pressure admittedf'through the run-around port 32.` are preferably xso selected that when the hand grip is moved part way, therebyexerting pressure against the spring and opening the valve, the latter will be closed by the pressure simultaneously admitted through the port V32 as soon as that pressure isbuilt up 'to apoint proportional to the hand ressure exerted upon the hand grip. On .t e other hand, the valve will again be immediately'opened to admit more pressurefii-uid if the pressure drops bel ow the p'ointfwhich is called for by the position of the lever and the degree of compression i Th'e result is that the regulating cyli der. on the one side and the spring 26 on theother will automatically v control the valve to lmaintain the pressure in the supply pipe 8 at the predetermined point, the yspring acting to open the valve when the pressure in the'pipe for anyreason drops below the` predetermined point and.

the air pressure atthe, end of the valve acty.ing to close the valve or\ vto move lit-beyond v that'point 1and'to av position of exhaust, if

the hand grip the pressure .for any reason rises above tha-tf predetermined .point. v

The various lparts may be so proportioned that the valve will respond sensitivelyto the position of the controllingflever and admit and maintain a predetermined pressure supe"y ply inthe pipe, Suchpre'ssurevwlll be jpro.-`

p'ortionate to the pressure exerted against the spring 2 6 and-'the operator will, there fore, exert his strength against the hand grip with a force which, at all times, will'be substantially proportionate to, although it may be considerably less than the actual pressure in the operating cylinder 9 at the clutch. ln other words, his control over the clutch is exercised in simulation of the conditions .which would obtain if the lat-ter were connected by mechanical connections to 2 or other clutch controlling lever, y I twill be obvious thatmy invention is apl tained inf the workin plicable not only to the movement of a 'friction clutch member such as the member. 3, but tothe movement also of any other controlling element,`or any other member continued movement of which, like the continued movement of said clutch member, is accompanied 'by an increasing opposing resistance.

In Fig. 4 I have shown a modified form of controlling and regulating device of the same general type as that illustrated lin Fig. 3, being applicable, however, to cases where the auxiliary power'is normally maintained applied to `hold the clutch or other controlling element in one position and then withdrawn at times through manual movement of the controlling lever to release the controllingV element and permit its movement to another position under the influence of some medium such as a spring. Such' would be the casewere the spring 1l inthe clutch cylinderv 9 employed to Eapply instead of release the clutch member 3 andthe cylinder 9 normally maintained open to pressure fluid to voppose the spring and :thereby release instead of apply the clutch` member, the`exhaustion o the-pressure Huid from theI cylinder under the control of, the operator then acting topermit the' spring-actuated application of the clutch. Under such circumstances a bell-'crank lever'33 (Fig. 4) may be employed of the form there shown.'v This acts against the sliding collar 3a' andthe spring 35, the latter between such collar and the stud or shaft 23. Between thesliding collar 34 and the fixed or clamped collar 36, the latter lixed upon the operating` pin 37,

is a second and weaker spring 38.

Substantially the same construction of valve and -valve chamber is shown as in the case-ot` fthe first described modification in Fig. 3 but in the modified' form of F'ig. 4

'the normal condition which accompanies the releasefor inactive position of the hand latch 2 being` ythat `of pressure within the clutch cylinder 9' and'therun-around port 32, the

spring `*38 is normally or initially compressed the-.opposite end of the valve when the full working pressure of the supply source is atcylinder. hand' gripv released, t erefore, the/working .cylinder is filled with pressure and the Valve is balanced as shown with both exhaust andv supply ports closed, but adapted to Abe moved `so that with the hand gripreleased it'balances the pressure which is exerted againstwith the j toopen one or the other the instant the fluid i exerted `pressure, upon the Vvalve falls below thatl of the spring or vice versa.

The' pressure in the working cylinder is exhausted or reduced by allowing the spring .38 to. expand andrthereby reduce the spring yexerted pressure upon the valve.

The expansion of the spring-38'ollows the compression of the hand grip, for the latter act j describedv modification, although the lparts operate in a somewhat reverse relation. `In other words, the valve being constantly pressed` toward an open positionby spring pressure, and against the opposing air pressure, `the spring pressure lis relieved more or less'bythe movementof the hand grip and pressure in the cylinder is more or less re' duced' by the automate regulation according to the pressure exerted nupon the hand' grip. Inveach case, however, the auxiliary power may be applied to the controlled parts grad-` ually and, delicately responsive to the graduated lcontrol exercised by the operator over his immediate controllin lever. In each case the controlled part 1s moved lunder a force Ior pressure which is proportionate to ,the pressure exerted by the operator against the controlling lever or other device which he holds, and. also proportionate to the vmovement of such controlling device.

While the principles of my invention may be carried out in a great variety of 'ways and combinations, the adjustment for the valve 17 is preferably such that it norvmally remains in a balanced state, closing both the supply and7 exhaust ports and opening only for an instant as the springexerted pressure exceeds the fluid-exerted pressure orl vice versa. In the one case it yopens the supply port and moves back to close the same, quickly at first andv then slowly, as the admitted pressure approaches the point determined bythe pressure manually applied to the controlling lever. When that pressure is reached both ports yare, again closed-and the valve again nds its `balanced condition. In the other case, where the fluid-exerted pressure exceeds the spring-exerted ressure o'wing 'to a manually-caused re uction in the latter at the hand controllinglever, the valve moves to open the exhaust and then is gradually restored to its balanced position as the pressure dropsto the point determined by the hand control. In practice. the valve responds almost instantaneously to the moveiment of the hand grip and is almost instan-` taneously restored to its balanced condition so that the' working pressure is quickly and delicately responswe to rapid successive movements of the hand'controlling lever.

In the'f drawings a conventional showing onlyv is .made as to actual land relative.- 'dilmensions and proportions of the valves,

pipes, springs, levers, etc., these details'obviously being a matter of design well 'runderstoodl by those skilled` in the art and a matter of special consideration for `any given installation, dependent yin each lcase upon, the pressure employed and numerous other considerations with which an explanation of the broad principles of my invention need notbe encumbered.

While the controlling Avalve may beactuated by any suitable form'of'. controlling device, my inven ion as described permits it to be associated in the form shown4 orin other forms, --with a controlling lever-such f as the controlling lever 1 which, at the same time, maylbe used to perform lsome other controlling function, such as the control ofl the clutch for another rope-winding drum,

each without interferingimthe least with It will be seenv the function-of the other. that the valve 17 is arranged co-axially with the lever 1, so that the latter may be moved forward and back without affecting the operation of the valve.

While I have shown and described one iform of my invention, it is to be understood that the same .isnot limited to the details of parts herein shown, or 'to the specific ap lication of the invention herein descr1bed, but tham extensive modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having tlus described my invention, what I claim is:

. 1. The .combination with an element adapted to be moved, of pressure fluid means for moving the same, a source of pressure fluid supply, movable controlling means within the control of the operator for regulatin communication between the pressure flui means `and the source of supply, and means for maintainin the pressure admitted to the pressure uid means at a point proportionate to the effort exerted by the operator against, the controllin means.

2. The combination with a contro ling element of pressure fluid means for applying the same,.a source of pressure fluid supply, controlling means under the control of the operator, a supply valve and means auto-- matically controlling the valve in response and proportionate to the-effort exerted by the operator. at the 4controlling means.

3. The combination with an element.

adapted to be moved a ainst an increasing resistance, of pressure uid means for moving the same, a source of pressure fluid supply, movable controllin means within the control of the operator or regulating' communication between the pressure fluid means andthe source of supply, resistance means presenting an increased resistance to' the movement of said controlling means and pressure governing means responsive to the l 'force exerted l,by the operator Ein. moving..`

the controlling means thereby to secure and maintain `an .xleiiective;` fluid pressure 1 proportionate` to the effort'exerted by the op' erator.. v v 1 .ff .i

. 4. The combination with i an' element adapted to be moved, l, pressure Afluid ,'means for moving the same, .a `source of pressure fluid supply,f means wit-hin .the control of the operator'for controlling, thesupply vto and exhaust from said pressure fluid means,

and pressure maintaining meansregulating bothx the supply and-exhaust forfmaintaining a pressure determined by. the eiiort exerted byfthe operator' at vsaid controlling means.

5.V The' combination' with a @smelling ue'. ment 'adapted to be'moved 'from one position to another positionwith an'increasing resistance, of controlling means-'for applying the same, a source ofj ower, 'potveri actuated means through -whic said controlc ling means acts in applying `'said controlling element `and power `regulating l means interposing,` an increasin resistance to theconf trolling movement y the operator "of the ing the controlling means:

controlling means asthe latter isvv moved t'0 a position for applying increasedA power tol the controllin element,- for -'maintaining' automatically te amount ofA power applied to said vowen-actuated--means proportional tothe e ect exerted by the operator in mov- '6. The combinationwith a` controlling'element having a 'graduatedmovement vfrom' one position to. another; ,controllin means for applying` the same, a source o power," power actuated means throughwhich said controlling means actsrin applyingsaid controlling element, said 'controlling means in.

.controlling said power also having a 'graduated movement and means,includng a yielding element opposing the movement of the vcontrolling means, for regulating automatically thel amount Aof power applied to said power` actuated meansjtomaintain .its effec-v tive action upon the controllingelement ro'- portional Ato the graduated movement o the controlling means.

l .adapted to be moved against anv increasing source of supply, resistance means a 7.' The -com-bination [with 'A anA element resistance, 'pressure 'Hui .means for moving the same, aV source-Tof pressurecuid su l lyf's movable means within the control o the.' operator for regulatin communication between `the pressure4 Hind means and the inst which said controlling means moves with any increasing resistance said. resistancebein effective 1n proportion to the force exerte by the operatorv for moving the controllingl v means lto restrict or enlarge s uehcommunication thereby to maintaln an. eiective 'fluid pressure proportional to the eiort-cxerted by the operator.

'- SLThe combination jfwith andi-element pressurel fluid 4 means.: for moving the same,

a valve fori/controlling 'the' pressure fluid 'I -supply, a controlling-lever ,for'moving Asaid valv'e,"a spring interposed between said lever y and said .valve and opposing movement; of

the latter byl the former, and means veffective inlproportion to the Kpressure 'iiuid .ad-

mitted to said ressure duid meansl forY I n'ov-I -ing said valve 1n the opposite direction.`

9.' The combination with an element adapted to be moved by pressure iiuid, pressure Huid means for movin source of pressure fluid supp y, a valve controlling the same, an actuating memberI for moving the valve in one direction, said valve the samefa".

`having a pressure area towhich pressure is' admitted for .moving the valve' in the oppo-` site direction, an actuating lever for moving `said member, a spring interposed between` said lever and said member, `and meansffor admittlng to the pressure area of the-valve" y pressure proportionate to the prelessure'atb'Vy A mitted `-to said pressure-Huid moving meam'v` 10. The combination 'with an ,element adapted to `be moved,jpresure iiuid means for Amoving the' same, a source of pressure fluid suply, a hand'i'ever, a'valve orcontrolling t epressure Huid arranged to slide in line with the axis of said hand lever, a 'valve- 'controlling' device upon said hand llever,.and

means for moving the -valveindependently 'of the movement of the; lever to cause the same, a source of pressure-fluid supply aY .valve for controlling admission of 'pressurefluid from'said source of supply l,to said pressurefluid means, a controlling device and a connecting spring between said valve and' 'controlling device for moving the :Eormer in -responseto the movement of the latter, said (valvel carryingy a l.pressurel area against `which pressure uid' is adapted tobe admitted from the pressure-fluid means 4to' move said valve in opposition-to the movement imparted by said springxf 13. The combinationl with adapted' yto 'bef movedby pressure fluid, of

Q point determined y an element means 'formoving the same, a valve conf trolling the peressure'. fluid means, avalve movingI mem r, a yielding connection -between the valve and said member, and means for moving the'valve independently 'ofsaid member with a force proportionate4 tothe pressure admitted to the pressure fiuid means.

14. The combination with an elementadapted to be moved, of pressure'ui'd means for moving the same, a valve for controllingthe pressure fluid means, a valvel controlling member, means for causing the valve to be moved in one direction with-lan eii`ort`proport-ionate to the pressurevadmitted to the pressure iluid means and means for causing it't'o-be moved in the opposite direction with an eort varying with the eiiort exerted by the 'operator att-he controlling means.

. 15. A controlling valve for Huid pressure operated. devices comprising in combination, a valve' chamber having a closedfend; an admission port lformed in' said chamber; an exhaust port formed in, said chamber a third port formedy in said chamber ,and adapted to be connectedto the controlled device; a valve member' slidablein said chamber l,and ttingclosely tothe walls thereof, said valve connect-ing said third port with said admission'port when`.in one position and-the saidthird lplort with said exhaustport when in another position; a by pass adapted .to establishl communication bei tween. said third port 'and thespace at the closed end of said valve chamber; and .means fof/applying a variablev opposition to the motion of said valve member.

' 1.6.y controlling valve for Iiuid pressure operated devices comprising in combination,

la valve chamber` having a closed end; an adsion port when in one position and the said thirdport with said exhaust port when in .another position; a by pass adapted to establish lcommunication between said third Y portand the space at the closed end of said valve chamber, a spring opposing the motionlof said valve member; and meansfor varyingthe stress on saidsp'ring.- p

\In testimony whereof, I havesigned my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

A. ENORRIS.A 

